Margrethe at 80: Preparing for a Crown

Today, let’s take a look at Queen Margrethe’s life as she prepared to be a queen. We’re looking back at her life from 1959 to 1971, just before her January 1972 accession to the throne.

[getty src=”558631203″ width=”492″ height=”594″ tld=”ca”]

Nineteen-year-old Princess Margrethe (right) with her younger sisters Anne-Marie and Benedikte on a skiing vacation in Gausdal, Denmark on 20 February 1959.

[getty src=”558633797″ width=”433″ height=”594″ tld=”ca”]

The Royal Family – led by King Frederick IX and Queen Ingrid – pose for an official photograph in March 1959.

[getty src=”514980788″ width=”473″ height=”594″ tld=”ca”]

Princess Margrethe was photographed on her first day at Copenhagen University – where she studied law and humanities – on 14 September 1959. She’s pictured with her friend Helle Stangerup.

[getty src=”515488992″ width=”582″ height=”594″ tld=”ca”]

In 1960, along with Princess Astrid of Norway and Princess Margaretha of Sweden, Princess Margrethe travelled to California. Here, the Princesses are pictured in front of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle at Disneyland.

[getty src=”517474378″ width=”592″ height=”594″ tld=”ca”]

Here, the Scandinavian princesses met Elvis Presley.

[getty src=”102913066″ width=”584″ height=”594″ tld=”ca”]

Princess Margrethe with her parents in Greenland, 1960.

[getty src=”103454011″ width=”594″ height=”585″ tld=”ca”]

Princess Margrethe, Princess Benedikte, and Princess Anne-Marie on a visit to Klaksvig, Faroe Islands, in 1963.

[getty src=”102912201″ width=”594″ height=”568″ tld=”ca”]

Queen Ingrid and her daughters in Randers, Denmark, June 1964. The next month, Princess Margrethe’s youngest sister, Anne-Marie, announced her engagement to the King of Greece, Constantine. They were married on 18 September that year, two weeks after her 18th birthday.

[getty src=”551688283″ width=”594″ height=”589″ tld=”ca”]

The Danish Royal Family at Anne-Marie’s wedding, 18 September 1964.

[getty src=”558628235″ width=”594″ height=”455″ tld=”ca”]

The Royal Family (minus Anne-Marie) posing for photographs in 1965.

[getty src=”103453946″ width=”591″ height=”594″ tld=”ca”]

Princess Margrethe and the Danish and Greek royal families with baby Princess Alexia in Corfu, Greece, summer 1965.

[getty src=”1165724239″ width=”594″ height=”403″ tld=”ca”]

Princess Margrethe in the UK, 1965.

[getty src=”588972379″ width=”594″ height=”395″ tld=”ca”]

In October 1966, Princess Margrethe announced her engagement to French diplomat, Henri de Laborde de Monpezat.

[getty src=”451499318″ width=”578″ height=”594″ tld=”ca”]

Princess Margrethe and Henri (he changed the spelling of his name to the Danish Henrik with their marriage) pictured in France, 1966.

[getty src=”83494355″ width=”594″ height=”381″ tld=”ca”]

On 10 June 1967, Princess Margrethe and Prince Henrik were married in Copenhagen.

[getty src=”1128208356″ width=”594″ height=”411″ tld=”ca”]

Princess Margrethe with her firstborn son and heir, Frederik, born in May 1968.

[getty src=”515467930″ width=”594″ height=”447″ tld=”ca”]

Princess Margrethe attended the wedding of Crown Prince Harald and Crown Princess Sonja on 29 August 1968 in Oslo, Norway. She can be seen in the second row, far right.

[getty src=”1188890567″ width=”594″ height=”397″ tld=”ca”]

Princess Margrethe and Prince Henrik in Rome, July 1969.

[getty src=”103454002″ width=”556″ height=”594″ tld=”ca”]

Princess Margrethe’s second son, Joachim, was born in June 1969. Here, she’s pictured with Prince Joachim in 1970.

[getty src=”558630685″ width=”594″ height=”400″ tld=”ca”]

Princess Margrethe on an official visit to Belgium in 1970.